Why do the constellations we see today in the night sky are different from those 6 months ago?

Question

something to do with stars being circumpolar?

Answer 1

Except for a rather small set of constellations that have a similar right acension to that of the sun, you can see virtually any constellation on any given night. What really changes is the time of night they are up. For instance, while Orion is close to the sun as it passes through Taurus and Gemini it will be almost impossible to see for a month or two, but once it moves past that, you can catch Orion right after sunset. Now, if you want to see it in the early evening, yeah that only happens at a certain time of year, but if you are willing to stay up all night, you can see Orion at some point for most of the year.

Except for a small chunk of sky and right acensions near the sun, you can see pretty much everything at some part of the night, with stuff at declinations that are rarely (or never) above your horizon being an exception of course.

Answer 2

As the earth revolves around the sun The dark side of the earth faces different regions of the sky. Hence, the origins of the zodiac and the reason why most constellations can only be seen for about 6 months.
The stars which are circumpolar depend on your latitude here on earth. For instance if you are at 90 degrees (north or south pole) all of the stars that you see are going to be circumpolar, they will appear to remain at the same angle from the horizon and rotate around the zenith (directly overhead). If you are at the equator there will be no circumpolar stars they will rise in the east and set in the west. Most of us live in between, so if you take your latitude and face north you will find that the north star is approx the same number of degrees above the horizon. Then draw an imaginary line from that point to the horizon, the line will be the radius of a circle aroundthe north star which contains all of the circumpolar stars at your latitude.
I hope this isn't confusing. (by the way the north star is also the brightest star on the little dipper)

Answer 3

The reason why the stars in the night sky are different in one season from those in another season, is due to the Earth's "orbit" around the Sun. When we are on one side of the Sun (for an example here), at "night" (facing away from the Sun) we see, for example, the constellation of Orion. But 6 months later, when the Earth has orbited around the Sun to the opposite side, then our "night" is facing an entirely differnt star-system, such as the Northern Cross (Cygni). Stars that are termed as "circumpolar" simply means that they are close enough to the proximity of the North Star, and revolve counter-clockwise around the North Star but never sink below our horizon...they are always visible throughout the night, regardless of the time of night...they simply appear to rotate around the North Star (Polaris) in a counter-clockwise motion but always in view for observation.

Answer 4

The Sun has moved into the other part of the sky. Of course that is only apparent motion. In reality the Earth has moved half way around its orbit so that the Sun is seen in the other direction, toward other stars and constellations.

Answer 5

I think (don't be mad if i'm wrong) it has to do with the fact that the earth is constantly rotating and so that 6 months ago we were facing a different group of stars than we are today..

Answer 6

Hi. 6 months ago the Earth was on the other side of the Sun.

Answer 7

as the earth revoles around the sun, the night side of the earth faces a different part of the sky so we see diferent constellations

Answer 8

I believe it has to do with the fact that the Earth tilts away from the sun as the seasons change. You can only see Orion around winter time.

Answer 9

Good answer, Larry M. Saved me having to do it.

I wish everybody had a chance to go to a planetarium and see these things. It's not complex once people can visualize what is going on.

Answer 10

Because the earh rotates .Are yo for real,did you really need to ask.